1 {HEARD}
“The desire to be heard is as deeply seeded as the desire to be loved. For some people, it doesn’t matter who’s on the other end.” ~ David Levithan

“We all like to think that, despite our position in life, we are a ‘somebody’ that matters. We may not be a politician, a celebrity, an academic, etc., but we are here and involved in the world around us and we want desperately to belong. We have a voice and an opinion and crave to be taken seriously. We all want the very same thing…to be heard, to feel like our views matter…that we matter.“

The above paragraph was written by an online writer who had felt he was not being heard on certain social matters. He wasn’t desiring that his opinions be made a reality, but simply that his opinions would be heard and thought about.

As Christians, The Art of Civility starts with the invitation that God has given to us to come and talk to Him directly. Listen to this scripture from Jeremiah 33:23: “Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it-the Lord is His name. Call to me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

What an incredible invitation that God has given to all of us! That at any time, in any place, in any circumstance, God desires to hear us. Take a few more moments to let this incredible truth wash over you. The Lord who made the earth, who formed and established it, is inviting you to come and share whatever is going on in your life. The Lord who has the power to breathe stars, create planets, and who even formed your DNA is the same God who has made you a promise that you will always be heard. WOW!

Prayer is a two-way street where we communicate to God and God also is communicating with us. He has promised to not just listen but also to tell us great and hidden things that we would not know on our own, discover on the internet, or hear from a friend. As Christians, we always want to be starting with prayer and allowing that to then transcend into our other relationships as we seek to hear those around us.

The Art of Civility really starts with the art of listening, as we listen not just to respond, but in order that we might more fully understand the person we are speaking with. Remembering that our goal is not to win a conversation, change someone else’s opinion, or defend our territory, but rather to allow someone else the space where they will be heard with a heart of love. Psalm 103:8 says, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” May we take the listening ear that God gives to us and extend that to others in this world with a heart that is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love…just like our amazing God.

Points to Ponder:
1. Describe a time when you felt you were really listened to and how that make you feel.
2. What things get in the way of really listening to others?
3. How can you improve your listening skills with people in your own life today?